The starting point
Approve private-label packaging against one confirmed product specification. Separate bag-body printing from outer-pack printing, check every number and claim, and identify the exact proof and sample being approved. A reference photo is not a production artwork file.
Define what is being printed.
A logo on the bag, a printed card around a roll, a retail box and a shipping carton are different print surfaces. List each one separately. For every surface, identify the material, dimensions, language, number of colours and whether the supplier is expected to create or adapt the layout.
Ask for the printer’s current dieline and file requirements before final design work. Keep cutting, folding and artwork layers identifiable. Do not scale an old box layout to fit a new count without confirming the finished dimensions and pack arrangement.
Use a field-by-field approval sheet.
| Field | Compare against | Record before approval |
|---|---|---|
| Product identity | Confirmed SKU and sample | SKU, material and closure or format |
| Dimensions | Agreed specification | Units, orientation and measurement basis |
| Quantity | Confirmed packing list | Bags / roll, rolls / box, boxes / carton as applicable |
| Claims and instructions | Product-specific evidence | Approved wording and evidence reference |
| Barcode | Buyer’s assigned product data | Encoded number, symbol file and print verification plan |
| Proof version | Printer’s production file | File name, revision, decision and responsible approver |
This is a proposed record, not an assertion that a particular artwork has passed approval. If a field changes after sign-off, identify the change and issue a new version rather than replacing a file with the same name.
Check product numbers before styling details.
Start with dimensions, counts and material descriptions. For example, 4Season has two 120-bag pet-waste boxes with different carton counts. A retail count does not determine the shipping quantity. On a film pack, 400 yd and 400 m are different lengths and cannot be substituted.
The supplied artwork for resealable references 0139yw and 0140yw differs from catalogue values. These are visible reference discrepancies, not approved instructions for a new pack. Obtain the current specification and corrected proof before using either as a design starting point.
Next check language, spelling, colour references and the placement of opening instructions. Keep proposed environmental and food-contact wording tied to applicable evidence instead of borrowing a claim from another product.
Check the barcode in its final print context.
GS1 US recommends high-resolution barcode artwork and printing, appropriate placement and clear quiet zones around the symbol. Create the code at the required size rather than distorting an image to fill a space. Follow the requirements for the chosen symbol and scanning environment.
Have the buyer supply the correct assigned product data and confirm which packaging level the code identifies. Ask the printer how the final printed symbol will be checked. A code that appears readable in a screen mock-up does not establish the quality of the printed result on the selected packaging material.
Record what the final approval does and does not cover.
Check a folded or assembled proof where practical, and compare it with the intended pack arrangement. Identify whether approval covers layout only, colour, wording, dimensions or the complete pack. An artwork approval does not replace a product sample check or confirm shipping terms.
Keep a single approval bundle: specification revision, artwork file, sample identifier, approved changes and named decision maker. Record the date of the actual decision. Confirm responsibility for any remaining corrections before authorizing production.
Review custom packaging options and download the private-label brief. When you request an artwork discussion, include the SKU, target pack, destination and the print surfaces required. For the wider purchasing sequence, use the private-label order guide.
Relevant product ranges
Sources & scope
Method: AI-assisted drafting and organisation using the supplied catalogue and the sources listed here. Catalogue examples are supplier references; calculations are shown so buyers can reproduce them. No independent product testing was performed for this article.
This guide combines supplier catalogue facts with general procurement guidance. It does not report independent product testing or grant a product approval. Request a correction or supporting document.